LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team was recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for having the fifth-highest grade point average as a team among NCAA Division III programs, while 16 of 21 members of the team received Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors, it was announced today by the NFCA.
The Lyons posted a 3.771 team GPA. Remarkably, Wheaton's softball program has posted a 3.77 GPA in each of the last three years. The Lyons were ranked second in the nation in 2024 and seventh last year.
Student-athletes needed to achieve a 3.50 GPA or higher to earn All-America Scholar-Athlete honors. Wheaton registered a school-record total of 21 honorees in 2024 and 18 last year. The Lyons' total of 16 in 2026 placed them 37th in NCAA Division III and among the top 18.7% in the nation.
Seniors Amber Arcand (Millville, Mass.), Peyton Blankenheim-Brown (Rio Linda, Calif.), Ashlyn Burt (Olathe, Kan.) and Riley Dolan (Coram, N.Y.) were joined by juniors Taylor Barry (Hadley, Mass.), Sofia De La Rosa (Middle Village, N.Y.), Ella Molinari (Grafton, Mass.), Sam Puma (Tyngsborough, Mass.) and Gabby Reinbold (Sharon, Mass.) as honorees for the third consecutive year. Sophomores Kathryn Copperthite (Branford, Conn.), Madi Miller (Middle Village, N.Y.) and Alli Wisnouskas (Longmeadow, Mass.) and senior Brittany Dost (Centereach, N.Y.) were all tabbed for the second time. First years Alexandra Anquillare (North Haven, Conn.), Lexi Falcioni (North Branford, Conn.) and Lauren Kelley (Newton, Mass.) were chosen in their first years of eligibility.
Arcand made the transition from pitcher to right fielder and earned Second Team All-Conference honors. The Business and Management major started all 37 games, while batting .302 (19-63) in 20 conference games. Blankenheim-Brown culminated a dual-threat career with Second Team All-Region accolades. The Business and Management major contributed as a pitcher and at first base, while posting a 1.30 earned run average to go with a .299 (32-107) batting average and 26 runs batted in. Barry was among the Lyons' most steady players, batting .298 (25-84) for the season. A Criminal Justice major, she started 27 of 30 games and maintained a stellar .385 on-base percentage. Burt's final season was impacted by injury. The Biochemistry major made the most of her only game, smacking a single in her lone at-bat for the Lyons. De La Rosa was outstanding in the circle for Wheaton, earning Third Team All-Region and Second Team All-Conference honors. The Business and Management major ranked fourth in the NEWMAC with 111 strikeouts, while placing 41st in the nation with a 4.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Dolan started all 34 games that she appeared in and was Wheaton's primary catcher. The Elementary Education major threw out five of 13 attempted base stealers and ripped three doubles during the year. Molinari was named the NEWMAC Player of the Year and tabbed Third Team All-Region for the Lyons. The Biology Pre-Health major batted .440 (48-109) for the season and owned a .504 on-base percentage, including an eye-popping .586 in 19 conference contests. Puma appeared in three games for Wheaton. The Nursing major batted .333 (1-3) and recorded a .500 on-base average. Reinbold started 30 of 33 games that she appeared in for the Lyons. The Visual Art and Photography and Sports Media major posted a .306 on-base percentage and drove in nine runs.
Dost appeared in 24 games, while making 20 starts for Wheaton. The Elementary Education major made six appearances in the circle and recorded seven strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings pitched. Miller started two of 16 games that she appeared in for the Lyons. The Biology major owned a .381 slugging mark and knocked in five runs, including a home run. Wisnouskas appeared in three games for Wheaton, while making one start. The Mathematics major registered a .500 on-base percentage.
Anquillare saw action in 12 games for the Lyons. The outfielder knocked in four runs and smacked a pair of doubles to go with a .250 (4-16) batting average. Falcioni played in 20 games, including 16 starts. The Elementary Education major took over the starting shortstop duties late in the campaign and capped the regular season with a 2-3 outing that saw her smack a double and a triple as part of a four-RBI day against Emerson on May 2. Kelley made the move from soccer to softball and was used primarily as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner. The Neuroscience major appeared in 13 games for Wheaton and scored four runs.
The Lyons finished the season with a 21-16 overall record, including 11-9 in NEWMAC play. Wheaton earned the number six seed in the NEWMAC Championship Tournament, before bowing to United States Coast Guard Academy in the opening round.
